Atiku’s Fuel Subsidy Promise Is Political Deception — Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his promise to restore fuel subsidy if elected in 2027.

Sani described the pledge as a “political Trojan horse”, alleging that it was primarily designed to win votes rather than present a practical solution to Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the former lawmaker argued that Atiku’s current position was inconsistent with his previous support for the removal of fuel subsidy.

Sani said Nigerians should carefully examine the former vice president’s policy position rather than accepting the promise at face value.

“What he is saying is outright deception of Nigerians,” he said.

According to Sani, Atiku had consistently supported subsidy removal throughout his political career and had previously aligned himself with economic policies associated with institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

He argued that Atiku’s reported support for currency devaluation, privatisation and other market-oriented policies made his current promise to restore subsidy difficult to reconcile with his previous positions.

Sani alleged that the reversal was motivated by electoral considerations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

He also questioned the practicality of returning to a subsidy regime, recalling the huge amounts previously spent by successive governments to keep petroleum prices artificially low.

“For a number of reasons, what he said is virtually impracticable,” Sani said.

The former senator further warned that the previous subsidy system had been vulnerable to abuse, alleging that some beneficiaries exploited the arrangement to divert public funds through questionable petroleum importation claims.

He maintained that investigations and court cases involving alleged subsidy-related financial misconduct illustrated the risks associated with the former system.

However, Sani acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy had created significant economic hardship for Nigerians, particularly through its impact on transportation, food prices and household expenses.

He said the policy had contributed to growing dissatisfaction with the current administration and strained relations between the government and ordinary Nigerians.

Despite his criticism of Atiku’s proposal, Sani’s comments also highlighted the need for policymakers to address the hardship caused by high fuel prices and develop sustainable measures capable of protecting vulnerable Nigerians.